Starting device for motor-cars.



J. R. K-INNEY. STARTING DEVICE T011 MOTOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29., 1911.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET l.

L7i788g Patented NOV.4,1913.

STARTING DEVICE FOR MOTOR CARS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 29 1911.

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: lnvnim g mmggm [Patented N014, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUSTUS R. KINNEY, or DORCHESTE'R, massAcnvsn'rrsx STARTING DEVICE FOR" MOTOR- CARS.

This invention relates to starting devices,

andparticularly to starting devices which are used in connection with motor cars.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device which may be actuated by compressed air or other fluid to cause an initial rotation to the engine shaft and thus dispense with the usual cranking.

The invention consists in providing a supplemental shaft in alinement with the en-- gine shaft, which supplemental shaft is adapted to reciprocate to engage with the engine shaft by, means of suitable clutch mechanisms, and" is adapted subsequently to be oscillated while in engagement with the engine shaft toimpart tothe latter an initial rotation.

The invention consists further in 1necha nism for recipro 'ating and oscillating said actuating shaft by means of fluid pressure under control of thechautfeur.

The inventionfurther consists in means for retnrningsaid actuating shaft to itsnormal position after the initial rotation has been imparted to theengine shaft.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be thoroughly understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Ofthe drawings: Figure 1 represents a section of a starting device embodying the features of the present invention and showing the clutch meclnnnsm in elevation. Fig.

2 is'a section of the same, the cutting plane being on line 2-2 on Fig. 1, showing in elevation a 1 )ortion'of.a compressed air tank applied. thereto. Fig. 3 is a section of the same, the cutting plane being on line on Fig. 1. Fig. at represents-a partial transverse section of the same, the cutting plane being on line t on Fig. 2. l ig. :irepresents a partial transverse section of the same, the

, cutting plane being on line 5 on Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 represents a section of thecoi'ltrolling Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1 913.

Application filed May-29, 1911. Serial No. 630,537.v

throughout the several figures of the draw mgs.

In the drawings, 10 represents a cupshaped member provided with a cylindrical chamber 11, said cup-shaped member '10 beng secured to a rear plate 13 by means of a plurality of bolts 14 passing through-- a flange 15 formed upon said cup-shaped member. The rear plate 13 is secured in a fixed position in any well-known manner, as, for instance, by means of screws engaging the threaded openings 16 in the lugs '17 formed upon said rear plate 13'. An actuating shaft 18, mounted in suitable bearings formed in the said cup-shaped member'lO and said rear plate 13, is positioned within the center of said chamber 11. The outer end 'of said actuating shaft 18 is squared as indicated at 19 to receive a crank whereby the shaft 18 may be actuated in the usual 1nanner when desired. The opposite end of said shaft 18 has secured thereto clutch mem} ber 20 and in alinement with said shaft 18 is an engineshaft 21 having secured to its end a coacting clutch member 32. These clutch members 20 and 22 are normally separated --by mcahs, of a spring 23 acting upon one face of a piston 24 secured to or formed upon the shaft 18 and mounted in a cylindrical Cllt1ll'll)0l25 formed in the back plate 13, said piston chamber being preferably of less diameter than the chamber 11. The forward movement of'the piston 2st, by the action thereon of the spring 3, is limited by the hub of the clutclrmember 2O is readily accessible to the chauffeur is a' three-way valve 31, which is of any well- .known construction, and is normally closed.

Extending from the c m1partmcnt 27 is another passage smaller than the. passage 28, this passage 32"communicating through an opening 33 with the chamber 11. lVithin the chamber 11 and keyed to the shaft 18 in such a manner as to permita reciprocating movement of sa d shaft, -1S a piston member '34, the opposite faces of which bear rspec- A pressure admitted to the space 46 will cause Lively against the inner faces of the cupshaped member 10 and the rear plate 13. Secured to or formed upon the piston member 34 is a segmental blade 35, the outer wall of which contacts with the cylindrical inner wall of the chamber 11. Secured to' the cup-shaped member by means of bolts 36 and by means of a bolt 37 extending through both said cup-shaped member 10 and the rear plate 13, is a segmental abutment 38, the inner wall of which contacts with the periphery of the piston member 34. The uncovered radial walls of the abutment 38 are provided with buffers 39 and 40 of rubber or any other suitable resilient material. The buffer 39 extends sufiiciently beyond the face of the abutment 38 to prevent the opening 33 being closed at any time when the blade 35 is in its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The piston member 34 is provided with a recess 41 in which is positioned a helical spring 42, one end of which engages a lip 43 formed upon or secured to the piston member 34, while the opposite end is fastened to a pin I4)4 rigidly secured in the cup-shaped mem- The operation .of the invention is as fol-' lows :The various movable parts of the device are normally in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The supply tank 30 is normally filled with air or other fluid and under pressure while the valve 31 is normally closed. When it is desired to impart a rotary movement to the engine shaft 21 to start the engine the chauffeur opens the valve 31, permitting the air or other fluid containediwithin the tank 30 to pass through the pipe 29 into the compartment 27 Owing to the contracted dis-- charge opening from this compartment 27' a greater supply ofair is admitted thereto than can immediately be discharged therefrom. This results in the compressedv air acting upon the iston 24 to move it and the actuating shaft 18 against the tension of the spring 23 toward the clutch member 22, so that the clutch member 20 on said actuating shaft 18 will engage therewith. In the meantime during this movement of the actuating shaft 18 to engage with the engineeshaft 2l'by means of the two part clutch mechanism 20 and 22 the compressed air being supplied from the tank 30 to the compartment 27 is passing through the passage 32 and opening 33 into the space 46 between'the abutment 38 against the. blade 35 of the piston member 34. This continued the blade 35' with the piston member 34 of which it forms a=part to be moved in the direction of the arrow a. "The piston mem.-i

ber 34 with its blade 35 will continue to move aboutthe axis of the actuatin shaft causing a partial rotation of said she t until the blade 35. is limited in its movement in this direction by coming into contact with the buffer 40 on the abutment 38. Any air in advance of the blade 35 during this movement is. permitted to escape through the vent 45 which is located a short distance from the buffer 40; When the blade 35 has p'as sed this vent 45, an air cushion will be formed in advance of the blade to retard its movementand prevent undue shock when its further movement is finally limited by contact .with the buffer 40.- As soon as the engine shaft 21- completes a revolution the valve 31 is operated to' shut off the admission of further compressed airfrom the tank 30 30, the valve plug beingmoved in the direction of the arrow 1) on Fig. 6, so that the passage 47 therethrough will be horizontal and communicate with the vent 49in U the valve casing while'the branch passage 48 will communicate with the pipe 29 leading to the compartment 27. The spring 42 will then be free to actuate the piston member 34 in a reverse direction to bringit to-its normal position while the spring 23 will act on the piston 24 to separate the clutch members 20 and 22. When the parts are returning'to their normal positions the fluid in advance will be forced through the various passages and be ejected from the vent outlet 49. When the parts have assumed their normal positions the starting device is ready to repeat the operation.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of the invention will be thoroughly understood from the foregoing.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: v

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of two normally separa ted -1 alined shafts; coacting devices thereon for temporarily connecting said shafts; a piston and a blade on one of said shafts; and means for applying pressure against said piston to temporarily connect said shafts and subse- 11o quently against said blade to cause a par-' tial rotation of said shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of two normally separated;

alined shafts;fcoacting devices thereon for temporarily connecting said shafts; a piston anda blade on one of said shafts; means for applying pressure against sa'id piston to temporarily connect said shafts and subsequently against saidblade to cause a par-' tial rotation of the bladed shaft; and means in the path of said blade to limit its rotary movement. p '3. In a device of the class described, 'the combination of two normally separated alined shafts; coacting devices-thereon for temporarily "connecting said shafts; a pistonand a blade on one of said shafts; means.

for applying pressure against said piston to temporarily connect said shafts and subse- 13a quently against said blade to cause a partial rotation of the bladed shaft and means for reversely rotating said bladed shaft to its normal position.

temporarily connecting said shafts; a piston and ablade on one of said shafts; means for applying pressure against said piston to temporarily connect said shafts and subsequentlyagainst said blade tocause a partial rotation of said bladed shaft; and a spring thereon to retain said clutch mechanism in.

noperative posit on; means for applymg. pressure to the opposite face of said piston for reversely rotating said bladed shaft tb its normal position.

5. In adevice of the class described, the

combinationof two alined shafts one of Which is adapted to be reciprocated; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposed ends of said shafts ;-a casing; a piston there-' in on one of said shafts; a spring surroundlng said piston shaft and-acting on said piston to retam sald clutch mechamsm 1n inoperative position; means for applying pressure to the opposite face of said piston to move said piston shaft endwise and cause said clutch mechanism to connect said shaft; a radial blade on said piston shaft; and

means whereby pressure may be applied to said blade for rotating said piston shaft about its axis.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts one of which is adapted to be reciprocated; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposed ends of said shafts; a casing; a piston therein on one of said shafts;- a spring acting thereon to retain said clutch mechanism in inoperative position; means for applying pressure to the opposite face of said piston to move said piston shaft endwise and cause said clutch mechanism to connect said shafts; a radial blade on said piston shaft; means whereby pressure may be-appliedto said blade for rotating said"piston shaf t about its axis; and means for limiting the rotation of said shaft.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts one -of which is-adapted to be reciprocated; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposed ends of said shafts {a casing; a piston therein on one of said shafts; a spring acting to move said piston shaft endwise and cause said clutch mechanism to connect said shafts; a radial blade on said piston shaft; means whereby pressure may be applied to said blade for rotating said piston shaft about its axis; and means for rotating said shaft in the reverse direction to its normal position. p

8. In a device of the class described, the.

- said combination of two alined shafts; a clutch in on'one of said shafts; a spring acting 'thereonto retain said clutch mechanism in inoperative position; .means for applying pressure to the opposite face of said piston to move said piston shaft endwise and cause said clutch mechanism to connect said shafts; a radial blade on said piston shaft; means whereby pressure may be applied-to said blade to rotate said piston shaft about its axis; and means in the path of said blade to limit the rotation of said shaft.

9.. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch inoperative position; means for applying Y pressure to the opposite face of said piston.

to move said piston shaft endwise and cause clutch mechanism to connect said shafts; a radial blade on said piston shaft; means wherebypressure may be applied to said blade for 'rotating said piston shaft about its axis; and a buffer in the path of said blade to limit the rotation of said shaft.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism interposedbetween the opposed ends of said shafts; a casing; a piston there in on one of said shafts; a spring acting thereon to retain said clutch mechanism in inoperative position; means for applying pressure to the opposite face of said piston to move said piston shaft endwise and cause said clutch mechanism to connect, said shafts; a radial blade on said piston shaft; meanswhereby pressure may be applied to said blade for rotating said piston shaft about its axis; means in the path of said blade to limit the rotation of said shaft; and a helical spring for returning said: shaft to its normal position. y

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alinedshafts'; a clutch mechanism inter osed between the opposed ends of said sha ts; a fixed casing provided with two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connected by a contracted pas sage; a piston secured to one of said shafts actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamber to rotate said shaft.

12. In a device of theclass described,

the combination of two alined shafts;"a

clutch mechanism interposed between the op with two cylindrical chambers of different posed -ends of said shafts; a fixed casing I provided with two cylindrical chambers of different .diameters connected by a contracted passage; a piston secured to one of said shafts and positioned in the smaller chamber; a spring acting upon one-face of said piston; means "for admitting fluid to said piston chamber through a passage of larger diameter than said contracted passage to act upon the opposite face of said piston; a radial blade on said piston shaft adapted to be actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamber to rotate said shaft; and an abutment in said larger chamber to limit the movement of said blade inveither directions 13. In a device of the; class described, the

- combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposed ends of said shafts; a fixed casing provided diameters connected by a contracted passage; a piston secured to one of saidshafts and positioned in the smaller chamber; a spring acting upon one face of said piston;

means for admitting fluid to said piston" chamber through a passage having a larger area than contracted. passage to act upon the opposite face of said piston; a radial blade on said piston shaft adapted to be actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamber to rotate said shaft; and an abutment provided with yielding buflers in said larger chamber to limit the movement of said blade in either direction.

14. In a device of. the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism inter osed between the opposed ends of said sha ts; a fixed casing'provided with two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connectedby a contracted pas-' sage; a piston secured to one ofsaid shafts and positioned in the smaller chamber; a

' spring acting upon .one face-of said piston;

means for admitting 'fluid to'said' piston chamber through apassage having a larger area than saidflcontracted passage to act upon the opposite face of saidpiston-;.a

radial blade on said piston shaft adapted to beactuated by the inflow of fluid into, said larger chamber torotate said shaft; an 'abutmentdn said larger chamber to limitthe movement of said blade in either direction'; and a vent from said larger chamber near the end of movement of said blade.

15. In a device ofthe class described, the

combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism inter osed between the opposed ends of said sha ts; a fixed casing provided with two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connected bya contracted passage; a piston secured to one of said shafts and positioned in' the smaller chamber; a

spring acting upon one face of said piston;

means for admitting fluid "to said piston chamber through a passage having a larger area than said contracted passage to act 'upon .the opposite face of said piston; a radial blade on saidpiston shaft provided with a recess and adaptedto be actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamberto rotate said shaft; and a spring in said recess to return said blade to its normal position.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism inter osed between the opposed ends of said sha ts; a fixed casing provided with two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connected by a contracted passage; a piston secured to one of said shafts and positioned in the smaller chamber; a spring acting upon one face' of said piston; a passage-to said piston chamber having an area greater than said contracted passage andadapted to admit fluid to act upon the other face of said piston; a compressed air reservoir; a valved pipe therefrom to said larger passage; and a radial blade on said piston shaft adapted to be actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamber to rotate said shaft. i

17. In adevice of, the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposed ends of said shafts; a fixed casing provided with-two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connected by a contracted passage; a piston secured to one of said shafts and positioned in the smaller chamber which has an inlet passage thereto of greater area than said contracted passage; a spring acting upon one face of said piston; means for admitting fluid .to said piston chamber to act upon the opposite face of said piston; a radial blade onvsaid piston shaft adapted to be actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamber to rotate said shaft; and an o abutment in said larger chamber tolimit the movement of said blade in either direction. u

18. In a device of the class described, the

comb nation of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism interposed between" the opposed ends ofsaid shafts; a fixed casing provided with two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connected by a contracted" passage and the smaller ofgwhich has an inlet thereto of a greater area than said connecting passage; apiston secured to one of said shafts and'po'sitioned in the smaller chamber; a spring acting upon one face of said piston; means for admitting fluid to said piston chamber to act upon the opposite face of said piston; a:radial blade on said piston shaft adapted to be actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamber to rotate said shaft; and anabutment provided with yielding buffers in said larger chamber to limit the movement of said blade in either direction. f

19. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposed ends of said shaft-s; a fixed casing provided with two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connected by a contracted passage and the smaller of which has an inlet thereto of a greater area than said connecting passage; a p ston secured to one of said shafts and positioned in the smaller cham ,mechanism interposed between-the opposed ends' of said shafts; a fixed casing provided with two cylindrical chambers of different diameters connected by a contracted passage and the smaller of which has an inlet thereto of a greater areathan said connecting passage; a piston secured to one of said shafts and positioned in the smaller chant her; a spring acting upon one face of said piston; means for admitting fluid to said piston chamber to act upon the opposite face of said piston; a radial blade on said piston shaft )ro-vided with a recess and ada ted tobe actuated by the inflow of fluid into said larger chamber to rotate said shaft; and a spring in said recess to return said blade to its normal position. I j

21. In a device of the class described, the combination of two I normally separated alined shafts provided with means whereby they ma be 1cm )oraril connected one of which shafts is adaptedto be reciproeated; a radial blade on said reciprocating shaft rotatable therewith but adapted for end movement thereon; means for moving said reciprocating shaft endwise by fluid pressure to engage the other; and means for subsequently subjecting said blac e to fluid pressure and thereby iin 'ia-rtingn rlttary movement to said reciprocating shaft.

22.111 a device of the class described, the combination of two normally separated alined shafts provided with means whereby they may be temporarily connected, one of which shafts is adapted to be reciprocated; a radial blade on said reciprocating shaft rotatable therewithbut adapted for end movementthereon; means for moving said reciprocatlng shaft endwise by fluid'pressure to engage the other; means for subsequently subjecting said blade to fluid pressure and thereby imparting a rotary movement to said reciprocating shaft; and means for limiting the rotary movement of said blade.

In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposedends of said shafts; a piston on one of said shafts adapted to be acted upon to cause end movement to said shaft and the engagement of said clutch mechanism; a spring actingthereon to retain said clutch mechanism in inoperative position; a radial bladev on said pistonshaft; and means for sub ect-- ing said piston to fluid pressure to cause said clutch mechanism to be engaged and then sub jectingsaid blade to the same fluid pres sure to impart to said shaft a rotary movement.

24. In a device of the class described, the combination of two alined shafts; a clutch mechanism interposed between the opposed ends of said shafts; a piston on one of said shafts adapted to be acted upon vto'cause end movement to said shaft and the engagement of said clutcli' mechanism; a spring acting thereon to retam said clutch mechanism in moperative position; a radial blade on said piston shaft; means for SubJectmg said piston to fluid pressure to cause said clutch mechanism to be engaged and then subjecting said blade to the same fiuid pres sure to impart a rotary movement to said shaft; and means for limiting the rotation of saidpiston shaft.

Signed by me at 100 Boylston St, Boston. Mass, this 1st day of May, 1911.

iJUSTUS R. KINNEY,

Witnesses VVi-mrnn F. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

